Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-25

On thirty year. and sailed with hin
when some of you didn't know bin
| nacle from bow-anchor. He's sail
or through and through, but dre'ful
queer in some of his shore-ways. He
knows, reckon, what for he keeps hi:
women-folks In such a spook-rookery
as that-or near to it. don't find nc
fault; but do know that Peter Null.
Inns wouldn't pass one night undo,
that roof for the worth Of al the freight
under the matches of that big three
master out there in the bay"
But you might just hint what he
said.' s@N'as @s
Whats the use o. hintin'? You
know now Just as well as l could tell
Won, that there's been unearthly noises
heard from the loft and the cellar Oh
the old rookery. There been lights
seen f1ittin' from one window to an
other; and everybody, grown men and
women, as well as children, have
steered clear o the place alter dark.
What more dye want?'
1--WE all know that. Peter. But the
man that lives there ought to be able
to tell a good deal more nor that And
he told you more'n heidi u.s.
YOU'D think so-you' d think so.
reckon if you'd a heared him." The old
sailors vanity was now sufficiently
mMistered to, as that of a person pos
sesslng definite information about the
suspected locality which no one else in
Proyincetown had gained. IF you'd
jest heard him talk! He's a strange
man, as / said, and there's no gettin'
away from it We sailors see queer
things sometimes aboard ship, and peo-
pie as don't believe in ghosts orter to
60 to sea awhile, and get posted up;
but for all that, / never heard any
thing quite so spooky as Cap'in Willis
told me that day about the old she'll
He's heard chains clankn' in the mid
die of the night, when he couldn't
sleep for the noise; and got up TO see
what was the matter An he's seen
old Lobdell himself, with his red skall.
cap on. and cutlass drippin' with
blood, fyin' round the horn, runnin'
down the crazy stairs and the cellar.
laughin' like demon. He's seen all
that, and great deal more
A profound silence fell on the group
after this revelation.
Well" resumed old Peter, after a
few energetic puffs, Il spoke my mind
right out to the Cap'in. / says to him.
says l. 'Cap'in Aaron, you're bkave
man and a good sailor, and all Prov
incetown and every seaman that ever
sailed out o this bay for the last thirty
year knows it; but you're flynn in the
face O. Providence now, sure's your
names Aaron Willis These things
are sent by the devil; they belong to
him. and good God-fearin' folks II
have nothin' to do with EN-. By not
quittin' the sight of 'en, but tolhwin'
of 'em up and gettin' familiar-like with
'em, you put yourself in their power,
and the spooks II sail your ship for
you, and wreck her if they can And
just as sure's nay names Peter Null
Inns, while was talking with him in
sight of the home, flock of crows
came flynn over the town; and one of
EN- lit on the ridge-pole of the home.
and gave cav, cav cav. loud
to be heard half way to
Bos' H."
The silence that fell upon this con-
gregation of old seamen after this dis
closure, was unbroken for some mo-
ments. Then one of the party ventured
to ask:
What did Captain Willis say to
that?" T.
He only laughed at me-" Mullins
replied. He said he thought nv
was worse than it used to
be; and he gave me silver dollar, and
passed on. 1 haven't seen him since;
and you will believe, from what / have
told you. that / never expect to see
him again"
All this conversation had passed
quickly. Helen Willis was in sight,
coming up the street, when it begun;
but it had been SO rapidly spoken that
It's last words. as we have given them,
we're uttered before she fairly came OPP
posite to the place where the old sailors
as she walked on toward
,he old house which was her home. She
vas near by when Peter Mullins dehv-
cred his last statement. As she APP
preached, the old sailors awkwardly
to show their respect to /
.he Captains daughter, and, of course,
through her to the absent Captain, by
fitting their caps and tarpaulins. scrap
ng their forelocks, bowling, and going
through a multitude of quaint motions.
Probably the terror which would have
,een inspired if the peaceable and quiet
British war-frigate, lying at anchor in
he bay off Provincetown, had opened |
ire on the town would not have put its
Inhabitants generally in a greater state
# trepidation than these old salts ex-
United on the near approach of Helen 7